Scary September

As the weather Gods have smiled on us this summer, there's been little stuff of any real consequence happening in the 'shop, as gardening projects, namely the second section of a raised terrace have taken priority.

However, that's more or less finished now...

...and provided SWIMBO doesn't find me any more outside projects to do, I'm back in the woodworking saddle.  Andy Ryall's from Phoenix Oak Framing though, did ask if...

"I'd buried anyone under them?"  and I replied that the previous day, 'er indoors had commented that...

"progress simply hadn't been fast enough....Robert!!"

My reaction to Andy's question, naturally enough, was that the ''thought did occur''.....

The moisture meter has finally been delivered and nice little thing it is too, pretty accurate as well, though I was surprised to see that none of my timber in the 'shop was registering on it, which leads to the conclusion that a) it was broke or b) my wood was really, really dry.  In fact it's so dry it's actually below 6% MC which is the reason that there was no reading.

Work has started on the Bow Fronted Cabinet...

...as well.  The piece of crown cut, air dried oak that I picked up at Yandles in the Spring is really proving to be a mother of piece of wood.  It's very old and as we all know, the older oak gets, the harder it is to work (something to do with the tannin in it) but the few shavings produced in the pic had the sweat dripping!  The good news is that it was also too tough for the worm that had infested one side (shown) as after a few shavings, the holes had all but disappeared and I'm confident that once it's to size there won't be any.

Last Christmas, I joined the Southern Fellowship of Woodworkers and yesterday I received an email asking if I would be prepared to give a talk in September on 'Secret Drawers', so, feeling fairly chuffed with myself and inwardly preening, I nonchalantly agreed.

It now transpires that there will be 30+ woodies hanging eagerly onto my every syllable...

...and I'll have to use PowerPoint, a microphone with speakers and a digital camera set up!

Bloody hell!...as an ex-teacher I'm used to standing up and shouting, with recourse to lobbing a bit of chalk if anyone falls asleep.

Nightmare....